Chair construction



April 26, 1966 Filed Feb. 10, 1965 J. E. LILIENFELD 3,248,150

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 x INVENTOR JULIUS foam? L IL IENFELD de ce a .s e d.

BY BEA TR/Cf L /L//VFELD B jM/fl fxzcurmx A T TOE/YE Y April 1966 J. E. LlLlENFELD CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1965 3,248,150 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Julius Edgar Lilienfeld, deceased, late of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, by Beatrice Lilienfeld, executrlx, Estate Belleview, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Filed Feb. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 431,735 13 Claims. (Cl. 297-441) This invention relates in general to a chair construction, and more specifically to a chair construction of the type having an upholstery formed of a continuous strip of fabric material wherein the novelty resides in a construction which permits the strip fabric upholstry thereof to be contoured so as to conform to ones posture for added comfort. Heretofore, chair constructions of the type to which the instant invention relates were constructed and arranged so that the strip fabric upholstered portions thereof were simply stretched over the frame of the chair to define a merely flat coplanar back rest portion and a flat, coplanar seat portion so that no relative relationship existed between the stretched fabric and the body contour of a person sitting thereon, For this reason such prior chair constructions-did not and could not comfortably conform to the contour or shape of one sitting thereon. Thus one could never enjoy sitting on such chairs with the full luxurious comfort associated with the more luxurious padded upholstered type of chair. This was because the tightly stretched coplanar back rest portion and seat portion of such fabric strip upholstered chair construction tended to resist or fight the person sitting or occupying the same. Consequently, persons normally sitting in such chairs were subjected to considerable discomfort. Such discomfort frequently discouraged their use altogether.

A chair of the general type of which this invention relates is disclosed in a prior U.S. Letters Patent 2,891,603. While the support disclosed in said patent constitutes a substantial improvement over the prior known chair construction, it has been found that by applying the features of the instant invention, even greater comfort is afforded; With the improvement of the instant invention the seat forming portionsof the chair'are constructed to conform to the contour of the person sitting therein for greater comfort.

Therefore, an object of the instant invention is to provide a novel mounting for the supporting fabric strip in relation to its frame support wherein the objectional resistance or the fight back forces common in the prior chair constructions of the type in question are eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chair construction having a frame that is preshaped so that when the upholstered fabric material is placed thereon, the material assumes a contour capable of conforming to that of a body resting on the chair for the attainment of maximum comfort.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a chair construction wherein there is developed upon the seating of the occupant therein a field of forces which are directed transverselynalong the lowermost portion of the seat back rest portions thereof.

In carrying out this invention provision is made-for utilizing a chair frame construction preshaped to support a continuous strip of retiform fabric for defining the back rest portion and seat portion of the chair in-which the fabric is prestressed in such a manner that it is contoured so as to be readily conformable to the shape of the body seated on the chair.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the instant chair construction is relatively simple in con- United States Patent 3,248,150- Patented Apr. 26, 1966 FIG. 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view drawn to an enlarged scale of the instant chair construction.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentaryvertical section taken along line 6- 6 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings the chair construction of the instant invention comprises a frame made of any suitable material, as for'example, wood, metal, plastic and 'the like.

The frame comprises a substantially U-shaped back forming frame portion, which as illustrated is formed of a rigid tubular stock. Accordingly the back frame includes opposed leg portions 10, 10 interconnected by a cross piece 11 extending adjacent the top thereof. In the illustrated form'of the invention the cross piece 11 is formed as a separate member which is connected between the upper ends of the respective leg portions 10, 10' by suitable fastening means. However, it will be readily undertsood that the back frame portion of the chair frame may be alternately formed of an integrally formed U-shaped tubular member.

In accordance with this invention, the lower'portions of the respective leg portions 10, 10' are bowed or arcuately formed to bend in a forwardly direction as best seen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.-

The seat frame portion 12 of the chair comprises a U-shaped member having opposed leg portions and an,

the length of the leg portions 10, 10' of the back frame portion. The legs 13, 14 of the chair are connected between the arm 16, 17 and the corresponding side .leg portion of the seat frame 12.

If desired, laterally extending cross pieces 13A, 14A may be interconnected between the corresponding front legs 13 and the rear legs 14 of the chair respectively. I In accordance with this invention the upholstery of the chair construction comprises a continuous strip of fabric material 15 which is stretched over the back frame portion and the seat frame portion 12 of the chair. As shown, the marginal portions of the continuous fabric strip 15 along the opposed sides and ends thereof are reversely folded around the corresponding tubular frame structure of the chair, and suitably secured thereto by means of fasteners, e.g. screws, rivets, or the like.

In accordance with this invention it is to be noted that the lowermost leg portions of the back rest defined by the fabric strip is forwardly directed, and transversely curvedas indicated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 to present a concave area thereat. Accordingly, the frame of the back rest prestresses the fabric to define the contour shown. To insure such curvature of the forwardly directed portion of the fabric strip 15, the strip 15 is attached to the chair framing in a manner such that it will be tensed or stressed transversely. Such mounting may be readily affected by means of the rod 14" which is designed to pass between the respective upper ends of brackets 14 which are connected to the rear chair legs 14 and extend rearwardly thereof.

As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a fabric loop 20 is secured to the fabric 15 at the junction line between the seat forming portion of fabric and the back rest portion forming of the fabric. Accordingly, the loop 20 is constructed so as to receive the rod 14 therethough thereby effecting the assembly and tensioning of the back forming portion of the fabric. The construction and arrangement is such that a posture type characteristic or curvature is imparted to the back rest portion of the fabric, as best seen in FIG. 4. Thus, the unitary strip of retiform fabric stretched across both the seat frame and back frame is rendered readily conformable to the shape of a body seated thereon.

With the novel construction herein described, the stresses produced by the body of an occupant in the chair conforms readily to the curvature of the fabric and does not remain unsupported therein as heretofore has been the case wherein the fabric upholstery was coplanarly stretched across the seat and back frame of the prior known chair construction. Thus, the strain on a persons bone structure and muscles which heretofore remained unrelieved on prior known conventional chair units, is avoided by the instant construction.

While the instant invention has been disclosed and described with respect to a particular embodiment, it will be readily understood and appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A posture chair or the like, comprising a rigid, generally rectangular open frame affording a seating platform; supporting legs for the same, and a connected back frame; said back frame including a pair of spaced apart back leg portions and a cross piece extending therebetween adjacent the top of said leg portions, said cross piece crossing in front of said leg portions, said back leg portions being arcuately bowed in the forward direction adjacent the lower free. ends thereof and a continuous strip of retiform fabric, of substantially inextensible filiments, said strip being secured to and over, respectively, the front and sides of the seating frame and the back leg portion and cross piece of the back frame; and rearwardly-acting means engaging transversely the fabric strip 'at the juncture between the seating platform frame and the connected back frame to tension said strip where-by said strip is contoured between the arcuate bowed portion of said back leg portions.

2. A posture chair or the like according to claim 1, wherein the pull-exerting means is located to the rear of the seating frame substantially in the plane of the latter.

3. A posture chair according to claim 1, wherein means are provided intermediate the ends of the fabric strip to exert a permanent and rearward pull transversely across said fabric strip to distort the latter rearwardly in a substantially horizontal plane, whereby to afford at the section of the back portion of said fabric strip adjacently the rear of the seat portion a substantially concave contour and forwardly directed portion of said strip.

4. A posture chair according to claim 2, wherein a looped member is secured across the underside of the fabric to afford a tensioning strip; and means, removably supported in the sides of the back frame and extending across the rear of the chair normally to'engage said loop to tension the strip.

5. A posture chair according to claim 4, wherein the loop-securing means comprises a rod, extending at a side of the chair beyond the corresponding side of the fabric strip for manipulation in effecting assembly and releases of the rod.

6. A posture chair according to claim 5, wherein the rod is supported also by the rear legs.

7. A posture chair according to claim 6, wherein strut members supported carried by the rear supporting legs are removably attached to the side members of the back frame by the said rod.

8. A posture chair according to claim 6, wherein the 1 strut members are provided with respective perforations adapted to pass the assembly rod. 9. A posture chair comprising: (a) a frame including, 7 (b) a U-shaped back frame portion having oppositely, disposed leg portions that are acuately and forwardly bent adjacent the free ends thereof, and a cross piece crossing in front of said leg portions adjacent the upper ends thereof,

(c) a substantially U-shaped seat frame portion having opposed leg portions,

(d) means for connecting the respective ends of the seat frame leg portions to the ends of the back frame leg portions, I

(e) a continuous strip of fabric stretched across the back frame portion and seat frame portion,

(f) said strip of fabric having its respective marginal portions wrapped about and secured to the respective leg portion of said back frame portion and seat frame portion whereby the fabric defining the seat of said chair is tensed transversely between the opposed leg portions of said seat frame and loosely mounted at the rear of said seat forming frame, and said fabric defining the back rest which is transversely tensioned across the leg portions of said back frame portion and contoured concavely at the lower end thereof,

(g) and means connected to the strip adjacent the 1 junction defined by said fabric seat and back rest for anchoring the same to said frame whereby said fabric is contoured to conform to the shape of the body resting thereon. 10. A posture chair comprising:

(a) a frame including,

(b) a back frame portion having oppositely disposed leg portions that are arcuately and forwardly bent adjacent the lower free end portions thereof, and a cross piece at the upper end thereof crossing in front of said leg portions,

(c) a seat frame portion having opposed leg portions,

(d) a transversely extending rod connecting the respective ends of the seat frame leg portions to the ends of the back frame leg portions,

(e) a continuous strip of fabric stretched across the back frame portion and seat frame portion,

(f) said strip of fabric having its respective marginal,

portions wrapped about and secured to the respective leg portions of said back frame portion and seat frame portion, whereby the fabric defining the seat of said chair is tensed transversely between the opposed leg portions of said seat frame and loosely mounted at the rear of said seat frame,'and said fabric being transversely tensioned across the leg portions of said back frame portion and loosely mounted at the lower end thereof,

(g)- and means connected to the loosely mounted portion of said fabric adjacent the junction between said seat portion and back rest portion thereof, and

(h) said rod being extended through said loop for anchoring said loosely mounted portion to said frame whereby said fabric is contoured to conform to the (c) a seat frame defined by opposed leg portions and an interconnecting cross piece,

(d) a transversely extending rod connecting the free ends of said seat frame leg portions to the free ends of said back frame leg portions,

(e) supporting legs for supporting said chair on a supporting surface,

(f) and a continuous fabric strip secured to the respective leg portions and cross piece of both said back frame portion and seat frame,

(g) rearwardly acting means connected to said strip at the junction of said seat forming portion and back forming portion thereof,

(h) said means including a loop,

(i) and said rod connected between the ends of said leg portions extending through said loop to tension said back rest portion of said strip to form a concave contour adjacent the lower end thereof.

12. A posture conforming chair comprising:

(a) a back frame defined by opposed leg portions and an interconnecting cross piece,

(b) said back frame leg portions being arcuately bowed in a forward direction adjacent the free ends thereof,

(-c) a seat frame portion defined by opposed leg portions and an interconnecting cross piece,

(d) an arm rest connected to each leg portion of said back frame intermediate the length thereof,

(e) supporting leg members including a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, each of said legs being connected to said arm rests and corresponding leg portions of said seat frame for supporting said chair on a supporting surface,

(f) and a continuous fabric strip secured between the respective cross pieces of said backing to define a fabric seat and a fabric back rest for said chair,

(g) and rearwardly acting means engaging said strip at the junction of said fabric seat and fabric back rest to define a substantially concave contour to the fabric back rest adjacent the lower end thereof,

(h) said means including a loop connected at the junction of the fabric seat and fabric back rest,

(i) and a rod connected between the ends of the respective leg portions of said seat frame and back rest frame to connect the same, said rod extending through said loop to tension said back rest of said strip for form said concave contour adjacent the lower end thereof.

13. A posture conforming'chair comprising:

(a) a back forming frame portion defined by a substantially U-shaped tubular member having opposed leg portions and an interconnecting cross piece,

(b) said leg portions of said back frame being arcuately bowed in a forward direction adjacent the free ends thereof,

(c) a seat forming frame portion defined by a substantially rigid U-shaped tubular member having opposed leg portions and an interconnecting cross piece, 7

(d) means connecting the free ends of said seatframe leg portions to the free ends of said back frame leg portions,

(e) arm rests connected to the leg portion of said back forming frame intermediate the length thereof,

(f) and supporting leg members including a pair of front supporting legs and a pair of rear supporting legs each of said supporting legs being connected to said arm rests and the leg portions of said seat frame for supporting said chair on a supporting surface,

(g) and a continuous fabric strip secured to the respective leg portions and cross piece of both said backing frame portion and seat frame portion to define a fabric seat and back rest,

(h) and rearwardly acting means engaging said strip at the junction of said fabric seat and back rest to define a substantially concave contour to the back rest thereof adjacent the lower end thereof,

(i) said means including a loop connected to the junction of the fabric seat and back rest,

(j) rearwardly extending brackets connected to the respective supporting rear legs,

(k) and a rod connected between the ends of said bracket, said rod extending through said loop to tension said fabric back rest to form said concave contour adjacent the lower end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,514,811 11/1924 Wittman 297453 X 2,007,075 7/1934 Clements 29745 3 2,708,962 5/ 1955 Rechler 29731 2,907,376 10/1959 Lilienfield 160-352 3,120,407 2/1964 Probst 297457 3,124,390 2/ 1964 Eames et. al 297452 3,165,359 1/1965 Ashkouti 297445 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

C. A. NUNBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POSTURE CHAIR OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A RIGID, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OPEN FRAME AFFORDING A SEATING PLATFORM; SUPPORTING LEGS FOR THE SAME, AND A CONNECTED BACK FRAME; SAID BACK FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED APART BACK LEG PORTION AND A CROSS PIECE EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID LEG PORTIONS, SAID CROSS PIECE CROSSING IN FRONT OF SAID LEG PORTIONS, SAID BACK LEG PORTIONS BEING ARCUATELY BOWED IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION ADJACENT THE LOWER FREE ENDS THEREOF AND A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF RETIFORM FABRIC, OF SUBSTANTIALLY INEXENSIBLE FILIMENTS, SAID STRIP BEING SECURED TO AND OVER, RESPECTIVELY, THE FRONT AND SIDES OF THE SEATING FRAME AND THE BACK LEG PORTION AND CROSS PIECE OF THE BACK FRAME; AND REARWARDLY-ACTING MEANS ENGAGING TRANSVERSELY THE FABRIC STRIP AT THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN THE SEATING PLATFORM FRAME AND THE CONNECTED BACK FRAME TO TENSION AND STRIP WHEREBY SAID STRIP IS CONTOURED BETWEEN THE ARCUATE BOWED PORTION OF SAID BACK LEG PORTIONS. 